International Journal of General Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Investigating the Relationship between Ulcerative Colitis and Circadian Rhythm Genes Using Bioinformatics Analysis and Machine Learning.","authors":"Jianghao Wang, Meiyi You, Jichang Li, Xin Wang, Yucun Liu, Shanwen Chen, Pengyuan Wang","doi":"10.2147/IJGM.S521565","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJGM.S521565","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study investigated the correlation between circadian rhythm genes and ulcerative colitis (UC), aiming to identify biomarkers linked to immune microenvironment changes in UC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Gene expression data from UC patients and healthy controls were obtained from the GEO database. Data preprocessing included batch correction and PCA for consistency assessment. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the \"limma\" package, and functional enrichment analysis was performed. Machine learning methods (LASSO, SVM, RF) refined candidate biomarkers. RNA sequencing in a mouse colitis model and immune infiltration analysis validated key genes. A regulatory network of lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA for hub genes was constructed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>805 DEGs were identified, including 15 rhythm genes. Four key genes (<i>CPT1A, PRKG2, PPARGC1A, SLC6A4</i>) were screened, with <i>PPARGC1A</i> and <i>SLC6A4</i> validated as hub genes. These genes were associated with immune cell infiltration and hold potential as biomarkers for UC diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Disruptions in circadian rhythm are closely associated with the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). The biomarkers <i>PPARGC1A</i> and <i>SLC6A4</i> demonstrated significantly altered expression in UC patients and were correlated with immune cell infiltration. These findings underscore their potential as diagnostic markers, provide new insights into the immune microenvironment and pathogenesis of UC, and suggest potential therapeutic targets for the disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":"18 ","pages":"3239-3251"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12184708/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144475054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advances in the Treatment and Clinical Management Strategies of Tuberculous Meningitis.","authors":"Rong Li, Rong Yin, Yuanming Li, Yaxuan Wei, Bin Zhao, Chaoming Ge","doi":"10.2147/IJGM.S516998","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJGM.S516998","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tuberculous meningitis (TBM), a central nervous system infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a rapidly progressing, insidious disease with an exceptionally high disability and mortality rate. Its significant global burden has become a critical focus in public health. The clinical diagnosis of TBM faces challenges due to the lack of specific symptoms and imaging characteristics, making early detection difficult. Combined with the shielding effect of the blood-brain barrier against anti-tuberculosis drugs and the issue of drug resistance, treatment outcomes are often suboptimal. Furthermore, current early sensitive diagnostic tools are inadequate, leading to delayed treatment for many patients and adversely affecting their prognosis. This paper reviews the pathophysiological mechanisms of TBM, the types and mechanisms of action of therapeutic drugs, and the common drug selection issues and safety challenges encountered in clinical practice. The aim is to provide comprehensive guidance and references for clinical diagnosis and treatment to improve the therapeutic outcomes and quality of life for TBM patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":"18 ","pages":"3267-3276"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12184685/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144475140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical Model Based on DR3 Promoter Methylation for Predicting Short-Term Mortality in Patients with Acute-on-Chronic Hepatitis B Liver Failure.","authors":"Xue-Fei Wei, Jing Wang, Ji-Hui Li, Ying Zhang, Hui-Hui Liu, Na Wang, Xue-Mei Jiang, Hui Lyu, Yu-Chen Fan, Kai Wang","doi":"10.2147/IJGM.S525424","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJGM.S525424","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Death receptor 3(DR3) is a key factor in the regulation of immune response and inflammatory diseases. The study aimed to quantitatively assess the levels of DR3 promoter methylation, investigate the correlation between DR3 promoter methylation and its expression, and develop a prognosis prediction model incorporating clinical indicators for acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>DR3 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as well as methylation levels, were detected using Methylight and quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) in a total of 362 patients and volunteers. Univariate, LASSO regression, and multifactorial analyses were performed to identify factors associated with 90-day outcomes in patients with ACHBLF. A clinical prediction model was constructed using DR3 promoter methylation levels and clinical parameters. Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the model's discriminative ability. The Hosmer-Lemeshow (H-L) goodness-of-fit test and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA) were employed to assess the model's calibration and clinical practicability. The SHapley Additive explanations (SHAP) method was employed to interpret the top-performing model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed that DR3 methylation levels were significantly lower in ACHBLF patients. Furthermore, non-survivors exhibited lower DR3 methylation levels than survivors and higher mRNA levels than survivors. A clinical model incorporating prothrombin activity (PTA), procalcitonin (PCT), and the percentage of methylation reference (PMR) value of DR3 was developed to predict ACHBLF prognosis. The model demonstrated good performance in predicting 3-month mortality. The goodness-of-fit test and DCA confirmed the model's robust calibration and clinical applicability.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Abnormal DR3 promoter methylation exists in patients with ACHBLF. The integration of PMR DR3, PTA, and PCT into a short-term prognostic model holds significant promise for clinical application in predicting ACHBLF outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":"18 ","pages":"3253-3266"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12184781/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144475142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinicopathological Analysis of 60 Cases of Pulmonary Cryptococcosis.","authors":"Qiliang Liu, Mei Lei","doi":"10.2147/IJGM.S525789","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJGM.S525789","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Pulmonary Cryptococcosis (PC) is an invasive pulmonary fungal disease caused by cryptococcal infection, with diagnosis being challenging and prone to misdiagnosis. This research comprehensively analyzes the clinical, imaging, and pathological characteristics of PC, aiming to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic proficiency for PC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Clinical data of 60 PC patients diagnosed in our hospital from January 2019 to June 2024 were retrospectively scrutinized.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>60 patients were enrolled (40 males, 20 females), with an average age of 49.1±13.3 years. Notably, 47 patients (78.3%) were 40 years old or older. 47 cases had chronic underlying diseases, including 2 AIDS patients. Respiratory symptoms were observed in 33 patients, with cough being the most common. Serum cryptococcal capsular antigen testing was conducted on 52 patients, revealing a diagnostic sensitivity of 44.2% (23/52). Imaging revealed predominant involvement of the right lower lung. A peripheral subpleural distribution pattern was observed in 28 cases (46.7%). Lesions exhibited diverse morphologies: solitary, multiple nodules/masses, patchy/consolidation shadows, and a mixed form of these. The mixed type was most prevalent, with 30 cases. Initially, 56 cases were misdiagnosed as tuberculosis, lung cancer or others prior to pathological confirmation. Histopathology showed granulomas and/or multinucleated giant cells in 57 cases. Cryptococcal yeast cells phagocytosed within these cells appeared as colorless, transparent, round or oval structures (4-15 um in diameter) with a refractile clear halo on HE staining, while methenamine silver and PAS staining highlighted them as black or bright-red, facilitating diagnosis. Eleven patients underwent surgical resection followed by fluconazole therapy, and 45 received fluconazole or itraconazole therapy, with most achieving stable outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PC predominantly impacts men over 40 with chronic comorbidities. Serological tests and imaging may indicate PC, yet a definitive diagnosis necessitates lung biopsy or surgical pathology. Antifungal drugs and/or surgery typically resulted in a favorable prognosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":"18 ","pages":"3207-3214"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12182056/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144475053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adverse Cutaneous Reactions Following COVID-19 Vaccination Among Patients with Pre-Existing Urticaria: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Care Center in Saudi Arabia.","authors":"Ashwag Asiri, Hend M Alotaibi, Nouf Ali Alotaibi, Alfahdah Abdullah Alsaleem","doi":"10.2147/IJGM.S520084","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJGM.S520084","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To investigate the incidence, characteristics, and associated factors of cutaneous adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines among adult patients with pre-existing urticaria in Saudi Arabia.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study enrolled 190 adult patients (≥18 years) with urticaria attending allergy/dermatology clinics at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh (November 2021-April 2022). Data on demographics, urticaria characteristics, vaccination status, cutaneous reactions, and comorbidities were collected via questionnaire. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Chi-square/Fisher exact tests, Cochran's test, and binary logistic regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants were predominantly female (87.4%), with chronic spontaneous urticaria (97.9%); 78.9% used regular antihistamines. Reactions occurred after dose 1 (22.7%), dose 2 (26.2%), and dose 3 (31.0%). Among symptomatic individuals, onset was typically <24h, resolving in 1-3 days for ~50%. Common reactions included injection site reactions (13.1-16.3%), pruritus (7.8-10.5%), and urticaria exacerbation (3.9-9.1%). Urticaria exacerbation decreased significantly after dose 3 (p=0.030). Regular antihistamine use was associated with fewer reactions after dose 1 (adjusted OR 0.4, p=0.028). Female gender, asthma/atopy, and autoimmune disease were associated with specific reactions. Adjusted vaccine type showed no significant association.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Cutaneous reactions post-COVID-19 vaccination in urticaria patients are relatively common but generally mild and transient. Decreasing urticaria exacerbations after dose 3 is reassuring. Regular antihistamine use may offer some protection, particularly after the first dose. Findings support vaccine safety and aid patient counseling.</p>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":"18 ","pages":"3227-3237"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12182080/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144475141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk Factors for Depression and Nomogram Prediction Among Chinese Coronary Heart Disease Patients: A Multi-Center Study from 2016 to 2018.","authors":"Hongxuan Tong, Jiale Zhang, Lijie Jiang, Lei Dong, Jiatong Hu","doi":"10.2147/IJGM.S523513","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJGM.S523513","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to assess the prevalence and identify risk factors associated with depression among coronary heart disease (CHD) patients at different stages in China.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Conducted as a hospital-based, cross-sectional study across 48 hospitals in 23 provinces, the research spanned from October 2016 to April 2018. A total of 9044 patients were initially recruited, with 8353 deemed eligible for participation. Depression was assessed using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Scale. Univariate analysis identified predictors of postoperative depression, and binary logistic regression analysis was employed to ascertain risk factors associated with depressive symptoms. The predictive model was constructed using the \"rms\" package in R software, demonstrating robust predictive capabilities according to the ROC curve.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In general, both the degree and overall score based on the PHQ-9 revealed a trend: as the severity of the disease increased, so did the severity of patient depression. Univariate analysis indicated statistical differences concerning general situations and lifestyles. The binary logistic regression model highlighted the proximity of depression to risk factors such as gender, nationality, marital status, education, drinking, BMI, sleep disturbance, and disease status. Utilizing these findings, a predictive nomogram for depression was developed. The model exhibited excellent predictive ability, with an AUC of 0.768 (95% CI = 0.757-0.780).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study systematically investigated the prevalence of depression among coronary heart disease patients at various stages. As coronary heart disease advanced, the level of depression intensified. The nomogram developed in this study proves valuable in predicting the incidence of depression in coronary heart disease patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":"18 ","pages":"3215-3226"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12180592/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144475055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Single Cell and Transcriptomic Analysis of Regulatory Mechanisms of Key Genes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.","authors":"Yali Zhou, Yongzhuo Wu, Binbin Yang, Qinghuan Zhu, Haojun Long, Limei Yuan, Wenting Cao, Danqi Deng","doi":"10.2147/IJGM.S522871","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJGM.S522871","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Abnormal cell-mediated immunoregulation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Identifying distinct cellular subtypes and key genes is critical for understanding disease mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Peripheral blood scRNA-seq was performed on six SLE patients and six controls. The GSE82221 transcriptomic dataset was integrated with scRNA-seq data for a comprehensive analysis. Differentially expressed genes (bulk DEGs) and different immune cells (DICs) were identified from bulk RNA-seq analysis using differential expression and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Key cell populations that showed similar differential patterns to DICs were identified from scRNA-seq data, and a second set of DEGs (single-cell DEGs) was obtained. Key genes were defined as the intersection of bulk and single-cell DEGs with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) > 0.7. Functional enrichment, single-cell expression analysis, methylation analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction were performed on the key genes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From GSE82221, 2041 bulk DEGs and 14 DICs were identified. Memory B cells exhibited consistent differences between SLE and controls in both datasets. Nineteen single-cell DEGs were identified in memory B cells, with six key genes (MX1, IFI44L, ISG15, OAS1, IFI6, IFI27) showing AUC > 0.7. PPI analysis revealed their involvement in antiviral responses. Functional enrichment highlighted pathways such as Epstein-Barr virus infection and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Methylation analysis showed distinct gene regulation patterns, and pseudotime analysis demonstrated dynamic expression of IFI44L and MX1 during B cell differentiation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study integrated single-cell and bulk transcriptomic data to identify six key genes (MX1, IFI44L, ISG15, OAS1, IFI6, and IFI27) involved in SLE pathogenesis and highlighted the central role of memory B cells. Our findings offer new insights into SLE mechanisms and provide a theoretical basis for developing targeted therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":"18 ","pages":"3193-3206"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12178307/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144333094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relationship Between Glycosylated Hemoglobin Concentration and Prognosis of Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Non-Diabetic Patients.","authors":"Zhao Liu, Jie Gao, Wenying Hu, Pengyong Yan, Jun Lu, Tao Lei, Juan Xia","doi":"10.2147/IJGM.S519923","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJGM.S519923","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the relationship between glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration at admission and the prognosis of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in non-diabetic patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 142 non-diabetic patients with acute STEMI who underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in our hospital between January 2023 and December 2024 were enrolled in this study. HbA1c levels and baseline data for all patients were obtained at admission. According to the HbA1c level, patients were divided into a normal blood glucose level group (group A, HbA1c & lt; 5.7%, N = 57) and a pre-diabetic group (group B, 5.7% ≤ HbA1c ≤ 6.4%, N = 85). The occurrence of major cardiovascular events (MACE) was compared between the two groups after PCI during one-year follow-up.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The levels of serum FPG, BNP and the number of patients with multivessel diseases in group B were higher than those in group A (all p < 0.05). The LVEF in group B was significantly lower than in Group A (P = 0. 017). The total incidence of major cardiovascular events (MACE) within 1 year after PCI was significantly higher in group B than in group A (P = 0. 047). In addition, the risk of MACE in group B was 4.98 times higher than that in group A.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>HbA1c can be used as an independent predictor of MACE in non-diabetic STEMI patients. The control of blood glucose levels in pre-diabetic patients with STEMI should be given high emphasis to improve prognosis after PCI.</p>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":"18 ","pages":"3185-3192"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12176058/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144325658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Variations in Poisoning Epidemiology and Management During the Initial COVID-19 Outbreak in a Taiwanese Emergency Department.","authors":"Lu-Chen Chen, Chih-Yang Mao, Chan-Wa Cheong, Wei-Chen Chen, Tzung-Hai Yen, Hsien-Yi Chen","doi":"10.2147/IJGM.S520738","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJGM.S520738","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the epidemiology of emergency department (ED) presentations, including those for self-harm and poisoning. Taiwan, with its strict border controls and quarantine measures, experienced a delayed COVID-19 outbreak in late April 2022. We evaluated epidemiological changes in ED poisoning cases and assessed whether their management was affected during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective cohort study of ED poisoning cases during the early phase of the COVID-19 outbreak (May 1-July 31, 2022) and the corresponding pre-COVID-19 periods (May 1-July 31, 2018, and 2019) at a tertiary medical center. Demographic data, poisoning characteristics, treatment efficiency, and clinical outcomes were compared between the two periods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 145 poisoning cases (48.3 per month) were identified during the pandemic, compared to 572 (95.3 per month) in the pre-pandemic period. Poisoned patients were significantly older (median age: 48 vs 40.5 years, p = 0.009) during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic periods, with a significant decline in pediatric poisoning cases. Although an increase in prescription drug exposures and a slight decrease in other poisoning categories was observed, these differences were not statistically significant. The proportion of severe poisoning cases (poisoning severity score 3 or 4) was significantly higher during the pandemic than in the pre-pandemic period (14.5% vs 7.9%, p = 0.021), and was accompanied by increased rates of intubation and intensive care unit admissions. ED stays were significantly prolonged during the pandemic, particularly among patients at risk of concurrent COVID-19 infection. Mortality rates remained comparable between the two periods.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The epidemiology, disease severity, and management efficiency of poisoning cases were significantly affected during the early phase of the nationwide COVID-19 outbreak. Further large-scale studies are needed to validate these findings and inform future interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":"18 ","pages":"3175-3183"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12176141/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144325660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial Epidemiologic Analysis of Fetal Birth Defects in Guangxi, China.","authors":"Zhenren Peng, Xiuning Huang, Jie Wei, Biyan Chen, Lifang Liang, Baoying Feng, Qiufen Wei, Sheng He","doi":"10.2147/IJGM.S521948","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJGM.S521948","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To apply various spatial epidemiological approaches to detect spatial trends and geographical clusters of birth defects (BDs) prevalence in Guangxi, China, and to explore the risk factors for BDs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between 2016 and 2022, the Guangxi Birth Defects Monitoring Network (GXBDMN) monitored a total of 4.57 million fetuses in this study. The BDs data for fetuses could be obtained from the GXBDMN. The kriging interpolation, spatial autocorrelation, and spatial regression analyses were used to explore the spatial trends patterns, and risk factors of BDs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between 2016 and 2022, 101,786 fetuses were diagnosed with BDs, resulting in an overall BDs prevalence of 222.68 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 221.33-224.04] per 10,000 fetuses. The global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed a positive spatial autocorrelation in the prevalence of BDs at the county level. The local spatial autocorrelation analysis revealed that the primary clustering patterns of BDs prevalence were High-High and Low-Low. The local indicators of spatial association (LISA) cluster map and kriging interpolation analysis showed that the High-High cluster aggregation areas for the BDs prevalence were gradually shifted from Nanning and Liuzhou to Nanning from 2016 to 2022. The spatial lag model (SLM) results showed that the coefficients of education level (β=15.898, P=0.001), family monthly income per capita (β=0.010, P=0.005) and pre-gestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM)/gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (β=10.346, P=0.002) were statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The spatial trends and geographical cluster patterns of county-level prevalence of BDs in Guangxi are very obvious. Especially, the trend of high clustering in the prevalence of BDs is particularly evident. In addition, BDs are becoming more prevalent due to higher education levels, an increase in family monthly income per capita of pregnant women, and pregnant women with PGDM or GDM.</p>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":"18 ","pages":"3151-3173"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12176105/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144325659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}